A dog that allegedly bit a young child at a Tofino resort last week is locked up at the Port Alberni SPCA waiting to hear its fate.
The dog was off-leash on May 17 when it was approached by a 3-year-old girl.
The girl's father asked the dog's owner if it was okay for her to pet the animal and the owner replied that it was.
When the girl reached out to pet the dog it reportedly bit her, according to Sgt. James Anderson of the Tofino RCMP.
Anderson said the girl was taken to the Tofino hospital where she received treatment for a facial laceration and puncture wounds to her head and ear.
RCMP arrived at the hospital and spoke to the girl's parents who laid out what had happened and police then joined Tofino bylaw officials to track the dog down.
The dog-a boxer-was found at the resort with its owners, a couple visiting from out of town.
After their initial investigation, police contacted the RCMP in the jurisdiction the couple was visiting from and discovered the dog had a previous history of aggression, according to Anderson. Anderson said police also received eye-witness reports alleging the dog had again been running off-leash at the resort despite its owners being warned not to let it do so.
The couple and their dog were evicted from the resort and arrangements were made to stay at another accommodation in town but after receiving information on the dog's checkered past RCMP seized the animal and transported it to the Port Alberni
SPCA.
Anderson said police are collaborating with local bylaw officials to determine whether the dog will receive the death penalty for its actions.
"When a dog is off its leash, it only takes one bite to land it in doggy jail and possible destruction," Anderson said.
reporter@westerlynews.ca